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2012 Courtenay
Cruise

2012 Courtenay Cruise

Now I know what retirement should be all about. The Courtenay Cruise was my
first VCBC official duty after retiring from 46 plus years in aviation. What a
way to start my new career.

Up until recently all the Vancouver Island VCBC events had been centered on
the south end of the island around Victoria. Over the past few years I had
received a number of requests from the up island Volvophiles for something up
in their neck of the woods. So I decided earlier this year to follow up on an
offer of help from Wendy and Gary Woodley in Courtenay. Not only did they have
previous car club and rally experience, Wendy worked with several local
newspapers and had a wealth of local knowledge and contacts. More detailed
planning occurred over the course of the summer, most of which I spent at work
flying helicopters around the Canadian arctic (but that’s another story).
I’m just thankful for the internet where the Woodleys and I exchanged
emails and finalized plans for the First (and hopefully annual) VCBC Courtenay
Cruise.

Ol’ Reliable, my 61 P1800, transported Lucy and I north up the island
highway on Sat 08 Sep to where we met Gary and Wendy at a lovely seaside
restaurant in Comox. After lunch we reviewed the planned events for Sunday and
being the very thorough person she is, Wendy had covered all the bases down to
having the normally closed for lunch Silverado restaurant at the Crown Isle
Golf Resort reserved for the Courtenay Cruisers and to having bouquets of
Swedish blue and yellow pansies on each table. I later learned that the blue
and yellow runs in her blood as her Swedish heritage can be traced back through
her maternal grandfather.

Sunday morning dawned overcast with a threat of rain in the heavy clouds
that could be seen rolling over the mountains just to the west of us. This is I
guess is typical of the area as one of our major sponsors, Robert and Eunice
Kirk of the Courtenay Car Center showed up in a lovely C70 with the top down no
less! Actually, when we arrived at Simms Millennium Park, our rendezvous
location adjacent to the Car Centre, Peter Sharples, ever the early bird was
first on scene in his 57 444. In quick succession Chris and Marja BlasÅ¥ arrived
in their 96 850 followed in an 850 wagon by Peter and Maggie Gibson who had
caught the early ferry from up on Quadra Island. Another of our constant
supporters, Bill Paitson arrived from Nanaimo followed shortly in 70 122 by
Bert Sherlock, another of our club directors, who was visiting the island on
other business and had added in the Courtenay Cruise to his itinerary. Rounding
out our 9 car group was Ralph Zbarsky driving, of all things, a fully race
prepared and street legal 69 142S. Ralph, who hails from the mainland, was
visiting son Mike and grandson Nickolai and brought them along to the start.

For many in the group it was a first time for introductions and it
wasn’t long before some hoods were up and small groups were gathering to
discuss things Volvo. We let this go on as long as we could but soon it was
time to get things on the road. The driver/navigator meeting was convened at
the appointed hour and Wendy went over the safety reminders and orders for the
day then a brief outline of the route. Wendy and Gary had laid out the route
and refined it several times so they got the bye and proceeded directly to the
destination at the Crown Isle. For the rest of us, all new to the area, the
chosen route turned out to be a lot of fun for drivers and navigators. Wendy
had directed that I would lead off in the 1800 and others were to follow at
discrete intervals. About 15 minutes into the drive we met Peter Sharples
coming from the opposite direction. Being without a navigator we allowed that
he could join in and remain in sight of the lead car. It had been a long time
since Lucy and I had driven a route we had not set up and were totally familiar
with. So I think we had more fun than most and with only one very short miscue
we completed the route successfully.

I think everyone else must have done as well because it wasn’t too
much longer and we were all gathered in the Silverado dining room with much
animated discussion about navigation techniques or interesting things we had
come across enroute. Once we were all seated and meal orders had been taken,
Wendy started us off on the draw for door prizes. First, each participant got a
goody bag, including pins from Courtenay/Comox, information on local sights to
visit and discount ski lift passes. As Ralph Zbarsky had to depart early for
business on the mainland I think just about everyone else got a door prize of
some sort.

The Crown Isle lived up to its reputation as a luxury resort and served a
delicious meal. The camaraderie amongst this first gathering in Courtenay
continued well after lunch but soon it was time for us to start heading to our
respective homes. Lucy and I decide to relax and take the old highway, a slower
but much more scenic route to about half way back south to Victoria. The First
Annual VCBC Courtenay Cruise must definitely be rated a success. A hearty vote
of thanks to Wendy and Gary Woodley for organizing a great meet. We must make
this an annual affair.